Share markets edge higher on BOJ stimulus

US investors continue to trade without direction, overnight pushing stocks to modest gains to compensate for this week's pullback.

The Dow Jones ended 13 points higher at 13,577, the S&P 500 added 0.1 per cent making up for yesterday's loss, and the Nasdaq added 4 points helped along by a recovery in Facebook shares.

Trade was supported by a key report showing US home sales climbed in August to the highest level in two years, signalling the residential real estate market is contributing to the US recovery.

Technology titan Bill Gates has been listed by Forbes magazine as the wealthiest American for the 19th year in a row, with a fortune of $US66 billion, Warren Buffet came in second as usual with $US46 billion.

Forbes reports the total wealth of the US top 400 super-rich grew 13 per cent to $US1.7 trillion in 2012, which is lightning fast compared to the 1.7 per cent growth the American economy is seeing as a whole.

European stocks gained as Japan's central bank offered more stimulus, the Eurostoxx 50 added a 0.6 per cent.

The FTSE 100 erased yesterday's fall gaining 0.4 per cent.

Futures trade shows the local share market is set for a flat open, the ASX SPI 200 was down 8 points at 4,417.

On currency markets, the Japanese yen strengthened after touching a four-week low versus the US dollar as investors speculated the Bank of Japan's unexpected monetary stimulus, worth $120 billion, will do little to augment economic growth.

The yen strengthening is the opposite of what the BOJ wants to happen, because a weak currency will assist exports.

The Australian dollar is up from this time yesterday, buying 104.8 US cents.

On the cross rates it was worth 64.6 British pence, 80.3 euro cents and 82 Japanese yen.

Moscow's words and actions — including the alleged poisoning of a former spy — are not the results of random aggression but rather fall into distinct patterns that can help us anticipate Russia's next moves under Vladimir Putin.